With respect to Count 1, the defendants face a penalty of from 10 years to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $4,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years. With respect to Count 2, the defendants face a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years. Count 3 carries a potential penalty of from 10 years to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $4,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years. With respect to Counts 4, 5, 8, and 11, each defendant faces a potential penalty of 5-40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $2,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years. With respect to all other Counts, each defendant faces a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years.

The investigation was conducted by the Centralia Police Department, the Clinton County
Sheriff’s Department, the Joint Narcotics Unit of the Mt. Vernon Police Department and the
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Illinois State
Police, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County State’s Attorney’s Office, the United States Secret Service, the United States Marshal Service, and other law enforcement agencies pursuant to their participation in the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative.

The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney George Norwood.